Means for forming lines of stitches



L. U. IOEDICKE.

MEANS FOR FORMING LINES 0F STITCHES.

, APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27. 1917- 1,333,545. Patented Mar. 9,1920

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L. u. JOEDICKEQ MEANS FOR FORMING LINES 0F STITCHES.

APPLICATION man NOV-21,1911. 3

' Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Mar. 9,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

APPLICATION FILED NON. 27,19H-

.Imraiinr.

unis U.=Iu fiiclfa I L. U. JOEDICKE.

MEANS FOR FORMING LINES 0F STITCHES.

APPLICAHQN FILED NOV- 27,19II.

1,333,545. Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' 4E7 jig-2137a- L. u. JOEDICKE.

MEANS FOR FORMING LINES 0F STITCHES'.

APPLICAIION FILED NQV.- 27,181]- 1,333,545. Patented Mai. 9,1920.

5 $HEETSSHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS U. JOEDICKE, OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI.

7 Application fi led November 27, 1917. Serial No. 2045187.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS U. JOEDICKE, a citizen of the United States of America, a resident of Webster Groves, St; -Louis county, State of Missouri, have invented cer-.

simultaneously. Prior to this invention. conv tinuous adjacent llnes of chain stitches have been formed by using a single machine having a plurality of needles, etc., for forming the chain stitches, the needles being close to each other so as to form the stitches in adjacent lines. However, it has been both difficult and expensive to form more than two rows of lock stitches in continuous adjacent lines. Each lock stitch forming device must include an individual shuttle and other elements associated therewith to form only one of the rows of lock stitches, and the elements of one look stitch forming device must not interfere with the others. Owing to the fact that each individual shuttle, etc, occupies considerable space, for example, a space about 1 inch in width, the needles must be accordingly separated from each other to properly cooperate with the shuttles. other Words, the combined widths of several shuttles with their bobbins,.etc., is so great that the ordinary lock stitch sewing machine cannot simultaneously form several rows of stitches in lines very close to each other.

Heretofore, a lock stitch sewing machine for stitching thick, heavy cloth or the like has been made with a single needle bar pro vided with a pair of needles separated from each other a distance of about 1 inch, and lines of lock stitches 1 inch apart having been satisfactorily formed by said machine. To-accomplish this, the individual shuttles, etc;, of the earlier machine have been arranged very close to each other, leaving no unnecessary space between them, and as a consequence, a third individual shuttle etc. could not be interposed for the purpose of forming a third line of stitches between the two lines just referred to. In actual practice. it is frequently necessar to form three Specification of Letters Patent.

MEANS FOR FORMING LINES or STI'I'GHES.

Patented Mar. 9, T920.

continuous lines of lock stitches in a space about 1 inch wide, and, prior to the present invention, two separate and distinct opera tions have been'performe d in making the three ad acent lines of stitches. The work has been fed and guided through a machine having two needles about 1 inch apart, so as to form two of the lines of stitches, and upon the completion of this operation the stitched work is taken away from the double needle machine, the third row of stitches being subsequently formed by feeding and carefully guiding the work through another look stitch machine. This is the ordinary method of forming more than two adjacent lines of lock stitches in heavy sheetsof canvas as large as thirty feet square, the work being pulled over the floor of thework room and at the same time carefully guided and otherwise manipulated during each of the, two separate and distinct operations. In performing the second operation, considerable time and labor is required and greatv care must be exercised in'guiding the work to ac curately form the third line of stitches be- .tween the two adjacent lines of stitches.

By using the new machine the several continuous adjacent lines of. lock stitches are formed simultaneously, and actual experience has shown that the work can be done in about one-fifth of the time required to do the same work in the old way. Three or more continuous lines of lock stitches can be readily formed in a space about 1 inch wide, and the work can be easily guided so as to accurately form the stitches in straight parallel lines. Many large,'heavy bodies of cloth have been stitched by the new machine, and I have found that work formerly requiring two and one-half hours time can be completed in one-half of an hour- The adjacent lines of lock stitches are formed moreaccurately, and the care and labor heretofore involvedin the secondstitching operation is entirely eliminated.

Briefly stated, the preferred form of the .lock stitch forming devices, and the work is preferably fed by pushing said interposed portion away from one of the stitch forming ment of the invention;-however, it is to be understood that theinvention comprchends changes, variations and modifications which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Figure I is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. II is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. I.

' Fig. III is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the side opposite to that illus trated in Fig-II. i

Fig. IV is a front elevation of the ap paratus. V

Fig. V is a diagrammatical plan view of the separated lock stitch forming devices, showing the needles, shuttles and bobbins.

Fig. VI is a fragmentary detail view showing a portion of the means for transmitting movement to the shuttles.

Fig. VII is a detail view showing a portion of the means for feeding the work.

I do not deem it necessary to show or describe all of theiminor details of construction usually employed. in lock stitch sewing machines, for the invention is not in any way limited to such minor details, and any suitable lock stitch forming devices could be used to obtain the advantages herein pointed out. The drawings are therefore moreor less diagrammatical illustrations of the mechanism, and I will endeavor to set forth the invention without describing'many details which are well kn own to those skilled in the art.

The structure herein shown comprises two complete lock stitch sewing machines, designated A and B, respectively, separated from each other as shown in Figs. I and IV, the work being advanced from the machine A to the machine B. as indicated by arrows in Figs. I, IV and V. The machine A is provided with a-pair of needles 1' secured to a horizontal foot 2 at the lower end of a vertical needle bar 3, but the machine B is provided with only one needle 1' secured to a needle bar 8'. An oscillatory shuttle 4: proed in a stationary circularniember 6 .(Fig.

IV). 7 designates an oscillatory shuttle driver fixed to a shaft 8 and provided with a flange 9 adapted to strike the. shuttle 4 (Fig. IV). The shaft 8 is oscillated, as will be hereinafter described, for the purpose of oscillating the shuttle driver '7, thereby transmitting the oscillatory movement to the shuttle 4L.

The machine A, having a pair of needles 1, is also provided with two individual shuttles a (Figs. IV and V) each having a bobbin 5 .and an oscillatory shuttle driver 7 fiXedto a shaft 8. It will now be under stood that each of the machines A and B.

is provided with an individual shuttle operating shaft 8 or 8, and that the machine A has two needles which cooperate with a pair of shuttles, while the machin B has only one needle and only one shuttle.

The needles and shuttles are separated from each other in such a manner that three straight parallel lines of lock stitches can be formed simultaneously by feeding the work W from the pair of needles 1 to the single I needle 1. as indicated by arrows in Figs. I, IV and V. The stitches 1% (Fig. I) are formed by the pair of needles 1 and the shuttles associated therewith, while the single line of stitches I" (Fig. I) is formed by the machine B having only one needle. It will be observed that the line of stitches 1 is formed between the lines of stitches 1, and thatthese adjacent lines of stitches can be formed very close to each. other, although the shuttle mechanism of one of the stitch forming devices is widely separated from the shuttle mechanism of the other device. By referring to Fig. V it will be noted that the single shuttle 4 and its bobbin 5 could not be interposed between the corresponding parts of the machine A, and for this reason the'machine A could not be modified to receive a third shuttle and bobbin between its pair of shuttles. The elements-of the machine A are so constructed that there is no unnecessary space between the pair of shuttles, and in actual practice I have found that the pair of needles 1 can be conveniently arranged about 1 inch apart, although it is to be understood that the invention isnot limi ited to any particular d mensions, the object being to obtain all of the advantages herein referred to by sinmltaneously forming the adjacent lines of lock stitches.

The work is lapped and folded, as suggested by Figs. I and III, to receive the stitches 1 and 1 and one of the lapped edges of the work engages the edge 10 of a straight guide bar 10, shown .in Figs. III.

and V. This guide bar is arranged on the work receiving table and it extends ap. proximately from one stitch forming device to the other. The work can be [easily guided across the work table, in a straight line, by maintaining. one of the lappecl edgesn en.

:connected to the needle bar 3 or 3';

gag en'ient with the straight edge 10' of the guide bar 10. Therefore, thethree adjacent rows of stitches can be"r'eadily formed in.

1')arallel lines. 1

pivotally connected to the head 13 .and .needle bar 3' or 3. Each, needle bar is guided so as to move vertically in response to the rotary movements of the. main shaft 12. v

i The means for actuating the shuttles includes the oscillatory shafts 8 and 8 (Figs. II, III, IV and VI) to which the respective shuttle drivers 7 and 7 are secured, and each of the shafts 8- 8" is provided with an arm (Figs. III andVI) having a pin 16 on which a block 17 is pivotally mounted, said'block beingarranged in the slotted arm 18 of a bell crank lever 19; This bell crank lever is pivoted at p 20 and connected, by means of a long connecting rod-21, to ya crank 22 formed in the rotary main shaft 12 (Figs. IV and VI)." In response to the rotary movement of the main shaft 12, the long connecting rod 21 is actuated so'as to oscillate the bell crank lever 19 (Figs. III and VI) thereby transmitting an oscillatory movement to the arm 15 and shuttle actuating shaft 801' 8. It is to be understood that each machine A and B is provided with the mechanism just described, for the purpose of oscillating its shuttle actuating shaft 8 or 8.

Each of the machines is also. equipped with a take-up device in the form of an L-shaped lever 23 (Figs. ,I, II and III), pivoted at 24 and having a pin or roller 25 which, extendsinto a cam groove 26 formedin the head 13 at the front end ofthe main shaft 12. 7

Each presser foot 27 is secured to' the lower end of a bar 28, the upper. end of said bar being pivoted at 29 toa hook 30 (Figs. II and III) secured to a vertically movable rod 31. A long leaf spring 32, en-

gaging the upper end of rod 31, forces the latter downwardly, and since the hook 30 (Figs. II and III) is secured to said rod 31,

the bar 28 and its presser foot 27 are also forced downwardly by the spring 32. The 'presser foot can be lifted manually through the medium of a lever 33, pivoted at 34 (Fig.

IV) and also pivotally connected, at 35, to

a link 36, the lowerend of said link being slotted as shown in Fig. IV, to receivethe pivot pin 29 whereby the bar 28 is secured to the hook 30; 1

When the machine is in operation, each presser foot is intermittently lifted, lowered and oscillated: for the purpose offeeding the work? To raise and lower its presser foot, each machine is Pi'OVlClQCl'IWltll a bell crank lever 37 (F igyIII), pivotally supported'et 38 and pivoted at 39 to the vertically movable rod. 31, the latter being connected to'the "presser foot as previously pointed out. Each bell crank lever 37 (Fig. III) has an adjustable extension 37 provided. with a roller 40 engaging a cam 411 on the head 13' at the front end of the main shaft 12. Motion is transmitted from the main shaft,through the camel and "bell'c'rank lever 37 for the purpose of lifting the presser foot,]and the long leaf spring 32 is utilized to lower the presser foot. 'The means for oscillating the presser foot, to feed the work,con1pr1ses a horizontal" shaft 12 II, III and IV) an arm 43 depending from said shaft, and a roller 44- projecting laterally from thelower end of said arm 13 and extending into the lowerportion of the bar 28 to which the presser foot is secured. The shaft'42 "is oscillated so as-to oscillate the bar-28 and its presser foot 27, about the axis of the pivot pin 29 at the upper end of said bar 28. The means for oscillating said shaft .42 comprises an arm 45 extending from said shaft,

alink 4L6 connecting said arm 45 to an arm 12 and through the mechanism just described so'as to oscillate the presser foot,-

and each machine is provided with mechanism of this k1nd. If desired, the usual feed dogs v51 (Fig. V) can be'located adjacent to the needles so as to cooperate with the T presser feet, in a manner well understood in the art.

' o The thread T passing-to the single needle -Motion is ti' ansmitted fronrthe main shaft of the machine B (Figs. I, III "and IV) is 0 i drawn from any suitable source of supply, i

and it passes through a tension device 52 near the upper portion of themachme (Fig. III), thence downwardly to a tension devlce -53, upwardly to take-up lever 23 and downwardly (Fig. IV) to the needle 1. The

machine A is provided with devices similar to those just described, for the purpose of tensioning 'and guiding the two threads passing tothe pair of needles 1.

A belt :545 may be utilized'to transmit power to a pulley '55 on the main shaft 12 main shaft 12 ofthe-machine 'A- to'the cor-' responding shaft of themachine-B. I do vnot deem it necessary a point out the de- .57 whereby motion is transmitted from the tails of the several operations necessary to form the lock stitches, nor the manner in which the successive operations are performed, however, it will be noted that the elements of the machine B are arranged slightly in advance of the corresponding elements ofmachine A This is shown most clearly in Fig. IV, particular attention be ing directed to vthe positions of the shuttle and needle mechanism of the diiferent machines. The sprocket wheels 56 are adjustably secured to the main shafts by means of set screws 58, and by loosening and properly adjusting these sprocket wheels, the elements'of one machine can be easily positioned in advance cf the corresponding ele ments of the other machine. I will now set forth'the reasons for adjusting the machines in this manner.

When the machines are in operation, a portion of the work is interposed between the separated lock stitch forming devices, and the presser feet cooperate with each other to feed the work. The work is pushed forwardly by'the presser foot of the machine A and pulled in thesame direction by the presser foot of themachine B. By arranging the elements of machine B in advance of the elements of machine A, the feeding operation is performed in approXi-' mately the following manner The portion of the work interposed between the lock stitch forming devices is first pulled by the feeding elements of machine B and thereby placed under tension. Immediately there after, the feeding elements of machine A are actuated and the tensioned portion of the work is then advanced by the feeding elements of both machines. At this time the interposed portion of the work is pulled forwardly by the machine B and pushed in the same direction by. the machine A. Upon the completion of the feeding operation performed by machine B, the tension of the work is relieved by the machine A which continues to push the work a slight distance. By feeding the work in this manner I overcome the tendency of the work to buckle or become somewhat loose between the two lock stitch forming devices.

It will now be understood that the elements of thestructure herein disclosed are combined with each other so as to cooperate in forming continuous adjacent lines of lock stitches, and that this is accomplished by simultaneously forming more than two continuous lines of lock stitches at separated lock stitch forming" devices, and at the same time continually advancing and guiding the work from one of said lock stitch forming devices to the other. The single rowof lock stitchesformed by the machine VB, is interposed'between the two rows of stitches formed by the other machine, and

this interposed row may be formed in-a line midway between the other two rows, or in a line relatively close to one of the last mentioned rows. The position of the interposed line is determined bythe position of the machine B relative to the machine A, and said machine B can be adjusted longitudinally.

VVit-h this end in view, themachine B may be providedwith legs 59 (Fig. III) mounted on supports 60 and adjustably secured thereto by means of screws 61 passing through slots 62in the legs 59. The sprocket wheels 56, adjustably secured to. the main shafts by means of set screws 58, can also be adjusted when the machine B is adjusted longitudinally relative to the machine A.

The apparatus herein shown is particularly adapted for use in handling very large bodies of thick heavy canvas, or the like,

and it has been found quite difficult to manipulate such material at the points Where it is admitted to the machine. To overcome friction at these points audto enable the operator to more easily handle thematerial, a long horizontal anti-friction roller 63 .(Figs I, II and IV) is'rotatably mounted near the machine A, and a similar roller 64 is mounted near the machine A, and a similar roller 64; is mounted in a vertical position at a point near the roller 63. The horizontal roller is located'near one edge of the work receiving table to engage the bottom face of the work passing to the machine A. A large portion of the work isarranged in irregular folds and crowded between the vertical roller and the stitchforming devices.

I claim: V

1. In a mechanism for simultaneously forming more than two lines of lock stitches, a succession of lock stitch forming devices separated from each other, one of said lock stitch forming devices being provided with a pulling device whereby the work is pulled from theother lock stitch forming device, and the last mentioned stitch forming device being provided with a pushing device cooperating with said pulling device to advance the work, said pulling device being arranged in advance of the pushing device and adjusted to pull and tension the work before the latter ispushed by said pushing device, and operating means common to all of said devices.

'2. In a mechanism for simultaneously forming more than two lines of lock stitches, a succession of'lock stitch forming devices separated from each other, each of said lock stitch forming devices including a shuttle, the shuttle of one device being arranged in advance of the shuttle of the other device, and feeding devices cooperating with each other to advance the work from one of said lock stitch forming devices to the other, one of said lock stitch forming devices being adjustable t 'ansversely of the path of the work so as to provide for the formation of the rows of stitches in different lines relative to the stitching formed by the other stitch forming device.

3. In a mechanism for simultaneously forming three lines of lockstitches, a succession of lock stitch forming devices separated from each other, one of said devices being provided with a needle and a shuttle and the other being provided with two needles and two shuttles, the first mentioned needle being arranged in a line between said two needles to' provide for the formation of a line of stitches between the lines of stitches formed by the two needles, and said succession of stitch forming devices being provided with feeding elements whereby the work is advanced from one of saidstitch forming devices to the other, one of said lock stitch forming devices being adjustable transversely of the path of the work so as to provide for the formation of the rows of stitches in different lines relative to the stitching formed b the other stitch forming device.

4. In a mechanism for simultaneously.

forming more than two lines of lock stitches, a succession of lock stitch forming devices separated from each other, each of said lock stitch forming devices including a shuttle, the shuttle of one device being arranged in advance ofthe shuttle of the other device, feeding devices cooperating with each other to simultaneously push and pull the work from one of said lock stitch forming devices to the other, and operating means common a to all of said devices, said operating means LoUis U. JOEDICKE. 

